IMPHAL, Apr 8: Taking serious note of the sudden sinking of land at Sirarakhong village, Ukhrul district on April 5, Works, Power, RD& PR and Commerce and Industry Minister Th Biswajit has assured that houses would be built for all the affected families under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY).
Th Biswajit, accompanied by a team of PWD officials, today visited Sirarakhong and extended mone- tary aid to four affected families.
Houses would be built under PMGAY for the four families whose houses have sunk as well as for 25 other families whose houses are also located in vulnerable areas. PMGAY would be launched in the State in the last week of the current month.
The Minister pledged that he would work for economic upliftment of all sections of people.
Observing that some areas of Sirarakhong are not covered by power grids, Biswajit stated that an alternative arrangement would be made through MANIREDA so that these areas have access to electricity.
Mahadev-Tolloi road is in a very bad shape and it needs proper repairing. The road would be developed under PMGSY in a durable manner. Good transport infrastructure would go a long way in bringing uniform development across the State, Biswajit stated.
He further assured all possible assistance to the people of Sirarakhong toward economic upliftment.
Biswajit claimed that plans are afoot to promote small and medium scale entrepreneurs so as to enhance the State’s economic productivity. He then highlighted the need for active participation of people in all Government endeavours if they must achieve the desired results.
Observing that the Sira-rakhong community hall was in bad shape, Biswajit assured monetary aid required for constructing the community hall anew, above the money contributed by villagers for the same purpose.
On the other hand, Prof Arunkumar of Manipur University Earth Science Department cautioned that people should be more alert during monsoon season in view of sinking of land in the wake of heavy pre-mon-soon rainfall.
He also emphasised the need to improvise the drainage systems of Sirarakhong. A team of MU Earth Science Department visited Sirarakhong today and made a field inspection of the sunk areas.
Meanwhile, Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur State branch distributed kitchen kits to the four families whose houses have sunk.
Source: The Sangai Express
